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Humanizing Dis/ability

Dehumanization is typically less a matter of stripping away humanity than of never extending it, as we must first think and feel (mentalizing & empathizing) with another person if we are to know him or her on more fully human terms.

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Transcript of Humanizing Dis/ability

Humanizing Dis/ability

Young speaks out against what she refers to as "inspiration porn." She has witnessed the pity model a lot in her life, but she doesn't want anyone's pity. She also doesn't want people to see her as an "inspiration" just for having a disability, absent any worthy accomplishment, as that simply reveals just how low people's expectations are."I'm not your inspiration, thank you very much"Stella Young, TEDxSydneyExternal Video, 9:16http://www.ted.com/talks/stella_young_i_m_not_your_inspiration_thank_you_very_much?language=en#t-98804International humanitarian and global peace maker, Moira Kelly, adopted Ahmed and Emmanuel from the Mother Teresa Orphanage in Baghdad, Iraq in 1998. The orphanage had found the two brothers as babies, having been left in a shoe box. They had no birth certificates, and as a result of chemical warfare in Iraq, both had major limb abnormalities that later required corrective surgeries. Under Moira’s loving care and encouragement, however, both Ahmed and Emmanuel have overcome the odds to become accomplished young men. Ahmed is now a world record holding swimmer, having represented Australia in the London 2012 Para Olympic games. While a year prior in 2011, it was Emmanuel who stole the show with his unforgettable rendition of John Lennon’s "Imagine" on X-Factor Australia. Emmanuel called the experience “more than magic,” and said that "words could not describe what I was feeling on that stage.” An Unforgettable Performance, "Imagine"Emmanuel Kelly, X-Factor Australia AuditionYouTube Video, 8:22World Champion SwimmerAhmed Kelly, London 2012 Para Olympic gamesYouTube Video, 6:10This short film tells the story of musician and disability rights advocate Keith Jones, highlighting discriminatory intersections of race and disability.Keith Jones: Un-Rapping DisabilityYouTube Video, 13:01Kyle Maynard was born with a congenital condition that stunted the growth of both arms and legs. That did not stop him from being a wrestler, owner of a fitness gym, MMA fighter and conqueror of Mount Kilimanjaro. Kyle has made it his mission to show people what they are capable of, viewing it as a mission and opportunity to serve.No Arms, No Legs, No Problem: Climbing Mount KilimanjaroKyle MaynardArticle & YouTube Video, 11:21Article: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/armless-legless-man-climb-mount-kilimanjaro-prosthetic-limbs/story?id=14731056In 2003 a shark attacked Bethany Hamilton at the age of 13. The shark completely removed her left arm. Through the hard struggle of dealing with a physical impairment she did not give up on her life. She continues to come through the physical and emotional struggles each and every day. Bethany was home schooled from the age of ten until she went to high school. A year after her attack, Bethany won her first national title.Bethany Hamilton: Surfer Girl’s a SharkYouTube Video, 3:02George VI became king in 1936 when his brother Edward VIII abdicated the throne. He stuttered and this caused him to have a lot of trouble with his public speeches, especially in a time of world chaos (pre-WWII). Through therapy and support of his family he was able to overcome this fear and stutter as he gave his speeches.King George VI: Stuttering & the King's SpeechArticle & YouTube Video, 2:50Article: http://www.stutteringhelp.org/stuttering-and-kings-speech

Wonder presented Song of the Year, during which he joked that only he could read what was written in the envelope since it was in Braille. He went on to state, "I just want to say before saying the winner, that we need to make every single thing accessible to every single person with a disability."Stevie Wonder Presents at the 2016 GrammysExternal Video, 0:59http://video.vulture.com/video/Stevie-Wonder-Reads-Braille-at Ray Charles was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and composer, who at times is referred to as “The Genius” and was nicknamed “The High Priest of Soul”. When seven years old he became blind, which required him to use his strong memory for music and his gift of perfect pitch.Ray Charles, Renowned Musician/Pianist Part 1: YouTube Video, 8:401999 Interview, The Ed Bernstein ShowCan other people's expectations of you alter what you can do physically? Invisibilia investigates that question – specifically, they look into something that sounds impossible: if people’s expectations can change whether a blind man can see.Daniel Kish, a.k.a. “Batman”External Audio, 57:09http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/544/batman

Generous is a young woman who has done award-winning science, helped develop new technology, and tells a darn good joke. Alix also has Asperger's, a form of autism that can impair the basic social skills required for communication, and she's worked hard for years to learn how to share her thoughts with the world. In this funny, personal talk that she gave at TEDWomen2015, she shares her story – and her vision for tools to help more people communicate their big ideas.External Video, 10:26http://www.ted.com/talks/alix_generous_how_i_learned_to_communicate_my_inner_life_with_asperger_sGrandin is a prominent proponent of the rights of people with autism and of animal welfare. Here she shares how her mind works by “thinking in pictures,” which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss.The World Needs All Kinds of MindsExternal Video, 19:43Temple Grandin at TED2010Alix Generous at TEDWomen2015https://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds?language=enCommunicating My Inner Life with Asperger's

Public Service Lawyers, Pioneering AdvocatesYouTube Video, 15:24

Who Cares About Kelsey? is a documentary about the lives of students with emotional and behavioral challenges, demonstrating innovative educational approaches that help them succeed, while simultaneously improving overall school culture and climate.Who Cares About Kelsey?YouTube Video, 6:10

A deaf man explains the basics of how most deaf people wish to be treated when encountered in daily life. The video is intended to spread awareness of deaf culture, as many people have limited experience with individuals who are deaf.What is it like to be Deaf? YouTube Video, 25:51

Harrison reflects on his experience being the only student in his school with a hearing impairment. He acknowledges the challenges, while also highlighting how he has been able remain actively engaged in academics, extracurricular activities, and the broader community.

“My life as the only student who is hard of hearing in my school can sometimes feel like a bottomless pit of confusion.” -HarrisonBeing the Only Student with a Hearing Loss Article: http://www.agbell.org/Document.aspx?id=192

Future Hall of Fame running back Jamaal Charles speaks at the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics. He discusses his experience growing up with a learning disability, and how the Special Olympics gave him the confidence to succeed.Jamaal Charles Speaks at the Special OlympicsArticle & YouTube Video, 2:18Article: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/vahe-gregorian/article31196342.html#storylink=cpyLeno talks about how in his high school, dyslexia was just seen and talked about as someone being “stupid,” but then his teacher allowed him to use his ability in a creative writing class as a substitute for his English class to allow him to write scripts, which allowed his gifts to blossom.Jay Leno: Dyslexia in High SchoolYouTube Video, 1:10This documentary film goes in depth and gives insight into the experiences of individuals with dyslexia and their families. Parents share emotional stories of anxiety and frustration over failing to understand why their children are struggling to read, write, and spell; stories of the life-altering impact the word dyslexia has had on their lives. Additionally, adults with dyslexia speak candidly about their struggles and successes, both in school and in their adult lives.Documentary: Embracing DyslexiaYouTube Video, 70:00

Two children were interviewed and asked the same questions. Both children are six years old, in the first grade, and have the same family structure, but their answers are very different. The reason? One of them has ADHD.ADHD Child vs. Non-ADHD Child InterviewYouTube Video, 5:44Lauren is a young girl living with leukemia. The video shows her everyday life and what she goes through. The video shows her parents talking about her story, what her days consist of, and what they do to support each other as a family. Throughout the video you see Lauren as a kid - she dresses like a kid, she talks like a kid, and she sounds like a kid.Lauren Lives LeukemiaYouTube Video, 5:04Now an award-winning teacher, author, motivational speaker and Tourette's advocate, Brad Cohen reflects back upon his struggle in school and to become a teacher having grown up with the Tourette Syndrome. He travels to Britain to help improve awareness in schools about the special educational challenges faced by children with the neurological disorder.Award Winning Teacher with Tourette'sYouTube Video, 9:54Zuccardy offers candid, witty conversation about life's challenging moments and meeting them with creativity and humor. She provides insights gleaned from her personal struggle after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) changed her life.How a Brain Injury Made Me SmarterYouTube Video, 14:55Ann Zuccardy at TEDxPhoenixvilleErrol is a physical education teacher at a Texas School. He had a car accident that left him in a coma for several days and caused him to lose his short term memory ability, as well as giving him trouble with his organizational skills. He claims he is the most positive person you will ever meet.Errol: Making a DifferenceYouTube Video, 7:04Aaron Wheelz is a BMX “freestyler” and the first person to perform a front flip on a wheel chair. Aaron Wheelz was born with Spina Bifida so he is unable to use his legs. When he was 8 he started riding at skate parks with his older brothers and started to ride on the pipes and other BMX activities. He persevered and has now won many BMX free style competitions.

More about Aaron on his webpage: http://www.aaronfotheringham.com/about/Aaron "Wheelz" FotheringhamYouTube Video, 5:03Ezra Ezech is a great athlete and was nominated for SportsKid of the Year in 2014. He motivates kids to engage in sports and other activities regardless of their disabilities. Ezra Frech was born with one finger on his left hand and a curved left leg. When he was born he went through surgery to have his leg removed. They moved his thumb to his hand so that he could grab things and he got a prosthetic leg for his left leg.Super SportsKid Ezra FrechYouTube Videos, 3:21 (left), 4:27 (right)Van Delft is a Boston based comedian who shares the powerful story of her daughter’s birth, and the devastation that crashed over her when she realized that her daughter had Down syndrome. Bethany speaks openly about her feelings, revealing her raw experience of grief, as well as her struggle to come to terms with her new reality.Bethany Van Delft: Light & HopeExternal Audio, 17:00Podcast: http://themoth.org/posts/stories/light-and-hopeTim’s Place is open daily, serving breakfast, lunch, and hugs. Tim’s hugs have reached everyone from music legend Stevie Wonder to the President of the United States. To this day, Tim has given out more than 60,000 hugs.Tim’s Place: Service with a SmileYouTube Video, 2:56Shary and Leeanne are identical twins with different paths in life. One of them loves baking and cooking while the other loves to care for children. These identical twins with a mild intellectual disability work and have their own interests. They want to demonstrate that even if they are identical twins they have their own paths and their own goals for life.Sharyn & Leeanne: Belonging & ConnectingYouTube Video, 3:38Sengstack’s unique witty style of comedy, combined with his strong delivery and stage presence, has made him an up-and-coming favorite in the DC comedy scene.Donnie Sengstack: Comedy with a StutterYouTube Video, 9:35This documentary provides a moving account of the lives of three families with children who sustained brain injuries. The film focuses on changes in family dynamics, school-related issues, and the possibilities of lifelong recovery.Keep Moving ForwardYouTube Video, 4:20Children with Brain InjuriesTimmy and his mother were both born without arms. They both have the condition called Holt Oram. When Timmy’s mother was pregnant with him they had the option to terminate the pregnancy but they did not want that, they wanted a family. They both refuse to wear the prosthetic arm. This condition does not stop either of them from living life to the fullest. Timmy in the video loves to swim, play outside, cooks, gets dressed by himself, and plays video games. The principal even discusses how Timmy excels in schooling and how the other kids look past his condition and treat him just like the other kids. Linda is also studying to become a motivational speaker despite working through the day as a kindergarten teacher.Armed with a Spirit for LifeMother and Son Live Life to the FullestYouTube Video, 4:33Dehvin Brown has Down syndrome and loves to dance. His mother does not let his condition give him any excuses. He has the same priorities and responsibilites as his other siblings do. Dehvin was walking and potty trained before doctors expected him too. He is on a dance team called the Swag Cats. It is made up of other children with disabilities. He has landed solos, and competes nationally against other groups. This is what makes him happy and his mother wants to make sure the videos help inspire parents to let them know your children can do anything you just have to let them do their thing.Dancing Dehvin Goes Viral#DownSyndromeStillRocksYouTube Video, 2:34Sam had a traumatic brain injury and there was no signs of life or brain function. He was never expected to move his fingers, walk, talk but he proved them wrong and decided to live. The sugary saved his life but he remained in a coma with no response. The doctor asked the parents to wait one more week before pulling the plug and that night they were stunned when Sam held up two fingers. He had an aneurysm and a stroke from that. He had actually died at the scene. He worked hard at rehab and he wants people to know it takes dedication and perseverance to overcome hard situations, he hopes to inspire people find the miracle with in them and to never give up.Be Inspired: Sam's MiracleYouTube Video, 3:09Spencer made a video to show what it was like to have an older autistic brother named Mitchell. Mitchell acknowledges that he is the older brother and they can get on each other’s nerves just like any siblings do. Their bond is strong and Mitchell is the most important thing to Spencer and he will always be there to protect him. The video shows their bond and everyday things they do. Mitchell has accomplished many things that no one believed he could do, he can surf, he sang a song at graduation, and earned a gold medal in the Special Olympics. He can draw, type, cook, dance, and remember things they did together and the date they did it on. He is able to go to school and work, and he has the ability to make everyone around him happy. Spencer talks about a positive future they will have together that really gives a positive feel to autism.What it's like to have a Brother with AutismYouTube Video, 6:10Years ago Frenchwoman Pascale Honore was in a car accident which left her paraplegic – she was left without the use of her legs. But she loves the waves of Ellison in South Australia, and vowed to one day go surfing on them. So she got together with her friend, Ty Swan, to find a way. The video showing the two of them, connected via duct tape, surfing the waves of Ellison has warmed hearts all across Australia.Duct Tape SurfingYouTube Video, 1:02Sesser was raised by monks in Thailand after she was abandoned on the steps of a Buddhist temple. After being shuffled in and out of foster homes, Sesser was adopted by an American family when she was five years old. And she has been breaking boundaries since. Despite her disability, Sesser is a surfer, skater, dancer, and snowboarder. And she can shred better than most of ‘em. If that isn’t enough, she is also a model and a motivational speaker fighting to defy traditional beauty standards.Dopest Chick Around: Kenya SesserAlex and Skye are featured in this awareness film on individuals with sensory impairments. Alex has a visual impairment and Skye is profoundly deaf, but each convey a shared message of being misunderstood and often being made to feel invisible. If people are unsure about their disabilities, they have some advice: Just Ask!Just Ask: Sensory Disability AwarenessYouTube Video, 3:28Hearing & Visual ImpairmentsAlex and Skye are featured in this awareness film on individuals with sensory impairments. Alex has a visual impairment and Skye is profoundly deaf, but each convey a shared message of being misunderstood and often being made to feel invisible. If people are unsure about their disabilities, they have some advice: Just Ask!Just Ask: Sensory Disability AwarenessYouTube Video, 3:28Hearing & Visual ImpairmentsThis disability awareness film features Jordan, who has autism, and Isla and Tanzie, who both have Down syndrome. They all just want to be accepted and understood. They want to be treated like other kids, and to participate in the same activities as their peers. In the video, it suggests that if you are uncertain about disability, don’t be afraid to ask.Like Everyone Else: Autism & Down SyndromeYouTube Video, 4:00This disability awareness film features Jordan, who has autism, and Isla and Tanzie, who both have Down syndrome. They all just want to be accepted and understood. They want to be treated like other kids, and to participate in the same activities as their peers. In the video, it suggests that if you are uncertain about disability, don’t be afraid to ask.Like Everyone Else: Autism & Down SyndromeYouTube Video, 4:00Loretta Claiborne's story is remarkable - from Special Olympian to inspiring speaker and advocate for others. Her work has ranged from supporting people with disabilities to working to help end bullying. In 2000, Walt Disney Productions created The Loretta Claiborne Story. “I figured if my story could change a person's mind about another person, or especially a child's mind about another child, then it was the right thing to do,” Claiborne says. Loretta is a world-class runner and gifted motivational speaker who happens to also be a Special Olympics Athlete and a person who has an intellectual disability.Let's Talk About Intellectual DisabilitiesLoretta Claiborne at TEDxMidAtlanticYouTube Video, 11:34Berns, featured in the documentary Life According to Sam, shares what he finds to be the keys to happiness. Sam has Progeria, a rare, rapid aging disease, but hasn’t let his disability prevent him from pursuing the things that he wants out of life. He has become an Eagle Scout, as well as a section leader in his high school marching band.My Philosophy for a Happy LifeYouTube Video, 12:44Sam Berns at TEDxMidAtlanticEarl Simmons, better known by his stage names DMX and Dark Man X, is an American rapper and actor. Over his career he has sold over 30 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling hip-hop artists of all time. He has acted in films such as Belly, Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grade, and Last Hour. DMX has also published a book of his memoirs, as well as starred in a reality television series on BET. In this interview, DMX discusses his experience having bipolar disorder, in addition to his ongoing struggles with addiction.DMX Speaks On Bipolar Disorder, Drug AddictionYouTube Video, 4:14Carrey has been the lead actor in numerous hit comedies, and in this interview with 60 Minutes, he explains why he began making all his characteristic entertaining faces. When he was younger, his mother was very sick in bed and would take a lot of pills for her pain. Jim would do everything necessary to make his mother laugh, even if it meant throwing himself down the stairs or making the most ridiculous of faces. At the same time though, he was frequently depressed and mad at the world during this time of his life, with poverty having forced hard labor upon his family. Eventually though, he found salvation through his spirituality, forgoing drugs and alcohol and instead drawing on his new found passion and appreciation for the beauty of life.Jim Carrey: “Life Is Too Beautiful”YouTube Video, 2:35Spirituality and Overcoming DepressionArticle: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/carrey-life-is-too-beautiful/In this video we see a little girl named Rose living her life with her mom, dad, and brother. Rose is a 1st grader with Down syndrome who is integrated in the regular classroom and does not get pulled out for extra help. This is a very positive video in which Rose is treated as a truly equal member of the classroom community.Rose’s Inclusive EducationYouTube Video, 4:31Andrea, a teenage girl, got into a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury, drastically changing her life as a result. Her recovery process is shown in the video, demonstrating that she must re-learn basic skills in order to live. She doesn’t know how to eat, swallow, stand, talk, read, or write. Andrea’s parents essentially have to re-raise their child, which while undoubtedly a struggle, also brings them closer together.Raising their Child, For the Second TimeYouTube Video, 6:33This video is very helpful in understanding the struggles of a student with ADHD in attempting to focus on a specific task, as the boy is easily distracted from his homework. Given its growing prevalence, it is important for aspiring and practicing teachers to learn to recognize and support students who have ADHD.Homework on ADHDYouTube Video, 8:25Neil Hilborn, who has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) himself, beautifully performs his poem “OCD” in the final round of this competitive poetry slam. When asked about his OCD on Reddit, Hilborn explained, “Through a lot of therapy, I have managed to get most of the tics under control, so the poem is more representative of my symptoms at, say, 16 or 17… We always talk about ‘writing as therapy,’ and in my case it definitely helps with OCD symptoms. I wrote the poem at a time in my life in which I was having a lot of difficulty with my OCD. The first time I performed it in front of an actual crowd, the obsessions got quieter and the tics got much easier to ignore. Even today, I feel a sense of calm every time I perform the piece.”Gone Viral: Neil Hilborn Performs “OCD” at the 2013 Rustbelt Regional Poetry SlamYouTube Video, 2:51Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1k0lqd/ocd_by_neil_hilborn_easily_the_most_onion/I “couldn’t get my mind off it, and I realized it was because of its sheer humanity – Hilborn’s sheer humanity… But that should be obvious, isn’t it? Hilborn is after all, a goddamn human… Mental disorders are real. But humanity is real too. And if I cannot exercise proper humanity around my fellow men, then I’m the one with a mental disorder, and it’s more adverse than any ADHD, OCD, or Asperger’s syndrome – it’s a disease of apathy.”One blogger responded:Blog: https://thewizardofmosh.wordpress.com/tag/neil-hilborn/Stephen Hawking is a living, breathing example of extreme intelligence co-existing with physical disability. Hawking has ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, causing him to be completely paralyzed. However, in spite of his disability, Hawking has continued to conduct groundbreaking research in physics, most recently making advances supporting his theory on the interaction of black holes. On top of his research, Hawking also taught until retiring in 2009.Biography: Stephen HawkingExternal Video, 3:59http://www.biography.com/people/stephen-hawking-9331710This video features Samuel Comroe, a successful stand-up comedian who was born with Tourette’s syndrome, and has been dealing with disability his entire life. He's very funny and doesn't seem to take himself too seriously, making jokes about how he works Tourette’s into his dating life and other relatable situations. Comroe, along with friend Drew Lynch, started the Preferred Parking Comedy Tour, where they perform at colleges and clubs incorporating a Q&A segment at the end of each show, during which they attempt to change perspectives others have of people with disabilities.Preferred Parking Comedy: Samuel ComroeYouTube Video, 2:57Jonathon is a student with an impairment in his arms, but you wouldn't know he had any obstacles. He doesn't allow people to treat him differently or like he is unable to do something. He prefers to not continue on with corrective surgeries; he's happy with his life.Johnathan Francis, Quite the ExceptionYouTube Video, 3:20This video spotlights historical and contemporary individuals who are recognized as achieving success, in addition to being suspected of having a disability. The video includes:Louisa May Alcott: obssessivityTom Cruise: dyslexiaAlbert Einstein: Asperger’s syndromeThomas Edison: dyslexia, ADHDGeorge Bernard Shaw: ADDHans Christian Anderson: dyslexiaThese examples show that success can be found, regardless of one’s disability. Furthermore, these accomplished people did not achieve success in spite of their “disabilities,” but made their exceptional accomplishments because of the ways in which they were different.Famous People with DisabilitiesYouTube Video, 2:48This video spotlights historical and contemporary individuals who are recognized as achieving success, in addition to being suspected of having a disability. The video includes:Louisa May Alcott: obssessivityTom Cruise: dyslexiaAlbert Einstein: Asperger’s syndromeThomas Edison: dyslexia, ADHDGeorge Bernard Shaw: ADDHans Christian Anderson: dyslexiaThese examples show that success can be found, regardless of one’s disability. Furthermore, these accomplished people did not achieve success in spite of their “disabilities,” but made their exceptional accomplishments because of the ways in which they were different.Famous People with DisabilitiesYouTube Video, 2:48This video spotlights historical and contemporary individuals who are recognized as achieving success, in addition to being suspected of having a disability. The video includes:Louisa May Alcott: obssessivityTom Cruise: dyslexiaAlbert Einstein: Asperger’s syndromeThomas Edison: dyslexia, ADHDGeorge Bernard Shaw: ADDHans Christian Anderson: dyslexiaThese examples show that success can be found, regardless of one’s disability. Furthermore, these accomplished people did not achieve success in spite of their “disabilities,” but made their exceptional accomplishments because of the ways in which they were different.Famous People with DisabilitiesYouTube Video, 2:48The individuals in the video aim to put a face to the many labels associated with emotional disturbance and the stigmas associated with those terms.Ending the Stigma of Mental IllnessYouTube Video, 4:33Zayid, an Arab-American woman with Cerebral Palsy, brings humor, light, and a fresh face to this crippling disease. She is able to make people laugh, cry, and rethink the way they view her disability.“I've Got 99 Problems... Palsy is Just One”External Video, 14:33Maysoon Zayid at TEDWomen 2013https://www.ted.com/talks/maysoon_zayid_i_got_99_problems_palsy_is_just_one?language=en Hyysalo used to be a competitive skier before his accident. During one competition, he tried a jump that he had performed many times before, but this time he crashed. His helmet saved his life, but he was seriously injured and in a coma for about month. His dreams ended after the accident, the doctor informed him he could never ski again. He was crushed, but he decided to get back up and fight back against his injury by learning how to deal with failures. Pekka started filming ski competitions and eventually collaborated with another skier whom had gone through a similar injury to create a clothing brand called “Fight Back,” in reference to their injuries and how they fought back. Pekka slowly learned to walk again, even though he was told this would never happen again. He got back on skis 11 months later and he admitted that it was awful, because he would never be as good as he was before. His goal today is to complete a marathon. Today, he supports all individuals with special abilities, especially those with traumatic brain injuries.FightBack: My Recovery from TBIPekka Hyysalo at TEDxTurkuYouTube Video, 16:05Multiple kids with Tourette syndrome share their tics and their stories and experiences. They explain what tics feel like and how it has affected their lives. They also explain what happens when they try to suppress their tics. They explain their interactions with others who do not have Tourette syndrome and the bullying that occurs.Living with Tourette SyndromeYouTube Video, 11:42In this ABC news documentary, children with Williams Syndrome are featured at a camp for just for them. It is discovered throughout this video that children with Williams Syndrome may be some of the friendliest you will ever meet.Williams SyndromeYouTube Video, 5:37Where Everybody Wants to Be Your FriendDaniel always found himself struggling with simple things such as talking with people or making friends. He states in this TED Talk that one day he came home and asked his mom how people even talk to people, because he simply did not understand how to have a conversation. After his Asperger’s diagnosis, Daniel worked really hard and researched how to improve his own social skills. Daniel is now the author of http://www.ImproveYourSocialSkills.com, which is an online guide to social skills. He works as a social skills coach to share and help others who are going through what he went through. He recently launched a guide about online marketing for therapists, and he is currently pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. Daniel does not see Asperger's as a disability, because it is something that he was able to overcome. He believes that nobody deserves to be alone, and he strives to help everyone establish the human connections that he so long struggled to establish.My Life with Asperger'sDaniel Wendler at TEDxUniversityofArizonaYouTube Video, 18:05Rachel Kolb can do many things simply because she chooses to say the words, "I can." This is a skill Kolb believes we have as children, but that we tend to lose as we grow older. She reminds us to hold on to this belief in our own capabilities. Kolb also points out that everyone struggles with different things in life, and though people may go about crossing various thresholds in different ways, in the end it is all the same. She speaks passionately about seeing people for their abilities rather than their disabilities, as we all have been blessed with both.Navigating Deafness in a Hearing WorldRachel Kolb at TEDxStanfordYouTube Video, 16:36Silvia is a young women who has dyslexia. Even though she has a learning disability, she never let that be an excuse to prevent her from learning. She won't let her dyslexia "hold her back form academic or personal success."Silvia Ortiz-Rosales, Teen with DyslexiaYouTube Video, 3:21A young boy named Neil Cannon, who is diagnosed with autism, explains what it’s like to have sensory processing issues. Neil also discusses how he learns and deals with every day obstacles such as loud noises.A Child's View of Sensory ProcessingYouTube Video, 9:17Nick Vujicic is an Australian motivational speaker who was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a disability recognized by the absence of all four limbs. Growing up he suffered emotionally due to the treatment he received from others, which ultimately led him to create the non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs, at the age of seventeen. He now tours worldwide, using his story as a window through which he helps others to find meaning and value in their own lives.Never Give Up: Nick VujicicPart 1YouTube Video, 10:00Part 2YouTube Video, 26:47The Fatherhood Project is a video series that follows the filmmaker as he attempts to figure out what it means to be a good dad. This installment provides insight into the life of a dad whose son is diagnosed with autism and Verbal Apraxia. It provides the father’s unique perspective, exploring the realities – the fears and joys – of having a child with a disability.YouTube Video, 7:28The Fatherhood Project: Matt and Liam OakesHaben Girma at TEDxBaltimore 2014This is the story of Emma, a 5 year old girl who was born blind. Emma is very active and takes gymnastics classes, as well as participating in Girl Scouts. Emma's parents believe that if you treat a child as if she is different, she will believe that she is an outsider and doesn’t belong. Therefore, they expose her to many things and push her to do the things she loves, regardless of her disability.Our Special Life: The Planson FamilyYouTube Video, 5:50A Child with BlindnessThis is the story of Maddox, a 2 year old girl born with Down syndrome. This is an inspiring story of a family who fights for the future of their daughter by reaching out to the world, showing that Maddox is capable of following her dreams like any other child. They believe that “it’s our expectations that are going to make or break her.”Our Special Life: The McClintic FamilyYouTube Video, 6:43Having a Daughter with Down SyndromePatience is a cheerleader at the University of Arkansas who has an amputated leg. She has fully embraced life and is very determined to do anything she sets her mind to, including making the cheerleading squad at the University of Arkansas.“You can’t change it, so own it.”YouTube Video, 6:00Arkansas Cheerleader: Patience BeardMahamane is currently working on finishing his Ph.D. in cognitive psychology, surely an amazing and highly demanding pursuit for anyone. And while Salif’s ADHD is supposedly a disability, he believes it is a desirable adaptation; one that has been made a “fish out of water” by today’s standardized world. Salif is adaptive and resilient; curious and authentic. He believes that having ADHD makes him a “hunting and gathering badass,” and that it is a disability only to the extent that the rest of the world suffers from “Pro-Uniformity Disorder (PUD).”ADHD sucks, but not reallyYouTube Video, 13:22Salif Mahamane at TEDxUSUThis video features Jim Hughes, a high school history teacher who is blind, yet who is nevertheless considered one the most respected and highly effective teachers in his school. Hughes has developed an uncanny ability to verbalize information and connect with students, many of whom think the rest of their teachers – constantly blinded by PowerPoint and the like – could learn a thing or two from him.Blind High School Teacher Opens EyesYouTube Video, 2:10Part 2: YouTube Video, 8:36Hearing Impairment (& Deafness)Hearing impairment means an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child's educational performance but that is not included under the definition of deafness in this section. Deafness means a hearing impairment that is so severe that the child is impaired in processing linguistic information through hearing, with or without amplification that adversely affects a child's educational performance.IDEA Definition:Orthopedic ImpairmentA man with cerebral palsy carries out a social experiment to see how the general public would react to someone with disabilities and, honestly, the results may come as a shock to some. Many people feel uncomfortable or scared because they don’t know what to do or what to say around people with disabilities.Treatment of a Person with Cerebral PalsyYouTube Video, 5:08Brooke, a Kansas first grader, not only earned the national title among her age group, but also beat out all other competitors in first through twelfth grades. Her advice: “You could just try your hardest to do... set your mind on something and you can try your hardest to be able to do that.”Brooke Petro: Braille Challenge SuperstarExternal Video, 1:23http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/leawood-girl-earns-braille-challenge-superstar-award To all appearances, Eleanor Longden was just like every other student, heading to college full of promise and without a care in the world. That was until the voices in her head started talking. Initially innocuous, these internal narrators became increasingly antagonistic and dictatorial, turning her life into a living nightmare. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, hospitalized, drugged, Longden was discarded by a system that didn't know how to help her. Longden tells the moving tale of her years-long journey back to mental health, and makes the case that it was through learning to listen to her voices that she was able to survive.The Voices in My HeadExternal Video, 14:17Eleanor Longden at TED2013http://www.ted.com/talks/eleanor_longden_the_voices_in_my_headWhen Sue Austin got a power chair 16 years ago, she felt a tremendous sense of freedom — yet others looked at her as though she had lost something. In her art, she aims to convey the spirit of wonder she feels wheeling through the world. Includes thrilling footage of an underwater wheelchair that lets her explore ocean beds, drifting through schools of fish, floating free in 360 degrees.Deep Sea Diving… In a WheelchairExternal Video, 9:38Sue Austin at TEDxWomen 2012http://www.ted.com/talks/sue_austin_deep_sea_diving_in_a_wheelchairThis video features Sophie, who works with children in a preschool/nursery type setting. Her job requires a lot of discourse back and forth between children, parents, and co-workers but she perseveres and is known to be great at her job.Sophie's Story: SLI in AdulthoodYouTube Video, 3:19Drew Lynch is a comedian who auditioned and performed on America's Got Talent last season. He went very far on the popular television show and finished as the runner-up. Many people may remember him as the guy who stutters but, for the majority of Drew's life he did not stutter at all. During a softball game Drew was hit by the ball in his throat. After this accident Drew has stuttered ever since. Please watch Drew's America's Got Talent audition to truly see how Drew has turned a negative point in his life into laughter. Drew Lynch, along with friend Samuel Comroe, started the Preferred Parking Comedy Tour, where they perform at colleges and clubs incorporating a Q&A segment at the end of each show, during which they attempt to change perspectives others have of people with disabilities.Stuttering Comedian Wins Crowd OverDrew Lynch on America's Got Talent 2015YouTube Video, 8:48When Martin Pistorius was 12 years old he was diagnosed with a brain infection. The infection left him with no ability to speak and with limited mobility. His parents were told to take him home and to make him "comfortable." The doctors also told Martin's parents that he was unable to understand them. Little did they know that Martin was completely aware of the world around him and was simply unable to communicate. This is Martin's inspiring TedTalk about himself and his experiences.How my mind came back to life… and no one knewMartin Pistorius at TEDxKC 2015External Video, 14:08http://www.ted.com/talks/martin_pistorius_how_my_mind_came_back_to_life_and_no_one_knewActivist Caroline Casey tells the story of her extraordinary life, starting with a revelation (no spoilers). In a talk that challenges perceptions, Casey asks us all to move beyond the limits we may think we have. Looking Past LimitsExternal Video, 19:17Caroline Casey at TEDWomen 2010"I never needed eyes to see. Never. I simply needed vision and belief." -Caroline Caseyhttp://www.ted.com/talks/caroline_casey_looking_past_limitsThis is a link to a video about famous artist Chuck Close. He was a famous painter for many years and worked on hyper realistic portraits of human faces. He later had a blood clot that lead him to become paralyzed. Though he could not hold a brush to paint extreme detail like before, his paintings become more abstract. Art critics love his new style now more than ever. Coupled with learning disabilities growing up Chuck Close believes that nothing and no one should hold you back from what you are meant to do.Artist Chuck Close Paves His Own PathYouTube Video, 3:59This is a link to a video about famous artist Chuck Close. He was a famous painter for many years and worked on hyper realistic portraits of human faces. He later had a blood clot that lead him to become paralyzed. Though he could not hold a brush to paint extreme detail like before, his paintings become more abstract. Art critics love his new style now more than ever. Coupled with learning disabilities growing up Chuck Close believes that nothing and no one should hold you back from what you are meant to do.Artist Chuck Close Paves His Own PathYouTube Video, 3:59External Video (0:54): http://www.ryot.org/not-having-legs-never-stood-in-skateboarder-kenya-sessers-way/948366Sam is a Starbucks barista who dances his way through the workday, and he also has autism. After a video of Sam’s dance moves went viral, Ellen had to meet him and his incredible boss in person. Before landing his barista job, Sam had been told that he would never be employable, however, Chris saw something special in him and decided to give him a chance. Now, Sam is not only able to work and earn money, he also gets to put countless smiles on peoples’ faces, day in and day out.YouTube Video, 5:56The Ellen ShowThe Dancing Starbucks BaristaAt age 47, Boyle had a fairytale moment on Britain's Got Talent that shocked the world – including Simon Cowell. For her entire life, Susan had been told that she had brain damage, however, subsequent to her breakout moment, she received a diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome.Article & YouTube Video, 5:49Britain's Got TalentSusan Boyle: I Dreamed a DreamArticle: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-25290617Thasya Lumingkewas, 8, has autism and thrives at Maple Wood Elementary School in Somersworth, NH. The school has implemented Response to Intervention (RtI), Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). This film highlights the power of presuming competence, differentiated instruction and augmentative and alternative communication.Thasya LumingkewasYouTube Video, 13:20Including Samuel TrailerYouTube Video, 2:59Kids with a formal diagnosis, such as autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder -- along those who just need to move while learning--often find it challenging to shine in a traditional classroom. The kids who collaborated to write and star in this "Dear Teacher" video represent such students. So, they wanted to share with educators how their brain works and offer simple ways teachers can help.Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from StudentsYouTube Video, 1:52Kids with a formal diagnosis, such as autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder -- along those who just need to move while learning--often find it challenging to shine in a traditional classroom. The kids who collaborated to write and star in this "Dear Teacher" video represent such students. So, they wanted to share with educators how their brain works and offer simple ways teachers can help.Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from StudentsYouTube Video, 1:52Kids with a formal diagnosis, such as autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder -- along those who just need to move while learning--often find it challenging to shine in a traditional classroom. The kids who collaborated to write and star in this "Dear Teacher" video represent such students. So, they wanted to share with educators how their brain works and offer simple ways teachers can help.Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from StudentsYouTube Video, 1:52She Owes Her Activism To A Brave Mom, The ADA And Chocolate CakeArticle: http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/07/31/428075935/she-owes-her-activism-to-a-brave-mom-the-ada-and-chocolate-cakeHaben Girma is the first ever deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School, and now works as an attorney for Disability Rights Advocates. Haben was recognized at the White House as a “Champion of Change” by President Obama and Vice-President Biden, and was also granted the honor of introducing the President during a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. These are among many accomplishments for Haben, who was born both deaf and blind, all of which are practically beyond comprehension for her grandmother back in East Africa, who can't help but sense an air of magic surrounding her granddaughter's life. She might be on to something.Using a digital device that displays Braille characters, Haben Girma talks with President Obama at a White House ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.A fearless wakeboarder has told of how he defied his disability to become a champion at his sport. Daredevil Frenchman Jerome Elbrycht, 37, was an aspiring cook and keen snowboarder when his life was turned upside down in June 1998. Jerome fell over six metres when a skateboarding trick went wrong and broke several bones in his spine, leading to him becoming a paraplegic. However, this life-changing injury did not put Jerome off his sport and he started sit-down wakeboarding after a brush with sit-skiing.Champion Disabled Sit Down WakeboarderYouTube Video, 2:01An Indiana college professor has found rare film footage showing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt being pushed in a wheelchair, depicting a secret not revealed to the public until after his death. Brief Film Footage of FDR's Secret DisabilityYouTube Video, 1:00Jes Sachse is a Toronto-based writer, journalist, artist and curator. This individual is known for unapologetic and provocative work, wielded from a genderqueer, poet & general badass identity. This individual juxtaposes archetypes with self-representations, sarcasm and contradiction, the stories Sachse creates pervade public and private spaces to present audiences with the invitation to look. Sachse's work has been featured in publications such as The Toronto Tempest, Ryerson Free Press, Arthur Newspaper, The Toronto Star, Abilities Magazine, NOW Magazine, Xtra, Eye Weekly, and the 40th anniversary edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves.Disability, Art, and the Age of the InternetYouTube Video, 18:12Jes Sachse at TEDxTrentUniversityIn honor of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held on December 3, 2013 Pro Infirmis, a Swiss charity organization for the disabled, curated an awe-inspired succession of disabled mannequins designed to mirror a group of five individuals under a project campaign titled "Who Is Perfect? Come Closer". From beginning to end, Director Alain Gspone captures a heart-warming short film, highlighting the entire process as each of the models are carefully measured from head to toe, which would make sense, being that each of the five disabled mannequins were made ​​to scale as three-dimensional replicas of, these amazingly badass individuals such as Miss Handicap 2010 Jasmine Rechsteiner, radio host and film critic Alex Oberholzer, Swiss Paralympic athlete and seven gold medal winner Urs Kolly, blogger Nadja Schmid and German male actor Erwin Aljukić. Disabled Mannequins Because Who Is PerfectYouTube Video, 4:28Burgon is an 18-year-old honors student at Hillcrest High School. She rides horses, skis, rock climbs, shops, hikes, and reads and writes prolifically, among other things. If you really want to know who she is, read her poetry. She also sang and danced in a school play and was voted to the school's Peer Leadership Team by her classmates. She is slender, with long, silky hair the color of honey and vivid blue eyes that tremble but do not see. And on top of all that, Burgon Jensen is blind and deaf. She is as pleasant as a Sunday morning — serene, guileless, humorous and perceptive — and everyone who interacts with her tends to gush over this specialness in her; a charisma or aura that envelops her.Burgon Jensen, Living Life to the FullestYouTube Video, 24:55Article: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705331427/Seeing-Burgon-Blind-deaf-teen-lives-her-life-to-the-fullest.html?pg=allParents Kevin and Jane discuss life with their deafblind son, Gethin, including why they have taken up rock climbing!My child is deaf and blind: NDCS family storyYouTube Video, 5:05On May 25, 2001, Erik Weihenmayer became the only blind person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. In 2008 he climbed Carstensz Pyramid on the island of Papua New Guinea, completing the Seven Summits, the highest point on every continent. He is joined by a select company of only 150 mountaineers to have accomplished the feat. Yet for those who had long known him, his propensity for taking on and knocking down the loftiest of challenges came as no surprise. In spite of vision loss at age 13, Erik refused to be sidelined in life, establishing himself as a formidable high school wrestler, representing his home state of Connecticut in the National Junior Freestyle Wrestling Championship in Iowa. As a teenager, he also discovered rock climbing and a natural dexterity for the tactile aspects of scanning the rock with his hands and feet for holds. After graduating a double major from Boston College, Erik became a middle-school teacher and wrestling coach. Yet it was atop the highest point in North America, the mountain known as Denali, where his quest for adventure began to take shape. Erik’s triumphs over some of the world’s most formidable mountains began fueling his aspiration to take the lessons he learned in the mountains to help others shatter barriers in their own lives. To advance this idea, Erik co-founded a movement called No Barriers, which has a mission to help people overcome their challenges, face their barriers head on, embrace a pioneering and innovative spirit, and team up with great people to live rich in meaning and purpose. The motto is "what's within you is stronger than what's in your way." To this aim, Erik continues to challenge himself to live a No Barriers Life, and in September 2014, he kayaked the entire 277-miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. Erik WeihenmayerYouTube Video, 9:59http://www.touchthetop.com/“A No Barriers Life is not all about hanging off the edge of a scary mountain, nor is it only applicable to someone who may be blind or deaf. No Barriers is for everyone, and the pledge is the first step towards living the life you have imagined. ” -Erik Weihenmayer"I Am Potential" is based on the amazing true story of Patrick Henry Hughes, who was born with two incredibly rare conditions. One caused him to be born without eyes, and another prevented his joints from forming properly. This is the story of how a father learned to sacrifice all of his own dreams and plans for the sake of his son. Patrick faced surgery after surgery, but never lost sight of his dream of one day earning a spot on the marching band. And against all odds, Patrick went on to become an accomplished pianist, trumpet player, and singer.I Am PotentialYouTube Video, 1:47Official TrailerA heartwarming message to a future mom who is scared because she just found out her baby has Down syndrome.March 21st: World Down Syndrome DayYouTube Video, 2:28#DearFutureMomShortly after Wil was born our doctor informed us that he had Down Syndrome. We didn’t quite know what to expect. Some books and online articles told us not to except much, but we chose not to believe them. Some people felt sorry for us because Wil had “special needs,” but we figured that we all have our own special needs. The fact is, Wil has changed our lives for the better. He is not a burden to our family; he is not a trial for our family; he is just amazing. It’s hard to describe the joy he brings to each one of us. Even though he has Down Syndrome, we know that Wil is going to do anything he puts his mind to in life – Wil Can Fly.Wil Can Fly - Our Family's Journey With Down SyndromeYouTube Video, 8:13Blog: http://thatdadblog.com/A Canadian father, Robb Scott, who has a son with Down syndrome, created this video after overhearing another father in a video store explaining that Down syndrome was "an illness of not knowing anything." Mr. Scott was upset with himself for not stepping in and correcting the depiction, and in making this video he hoped to release some of his guilt. He later went on to say, "Down syndrome is, literally, one of the most beautiful things that has ever happened in my life."Dad Defends Son with Down SyndromeYouTube Video, 2:28#DearFutureMomScott Sonnon overcame dyslexia so severe that he was hospitalized in a children's psychiatric institution. He was advised that he should not set very high his expectations of his potential. He went on to become a five-time world martial arts champion, award-winning producer and author, patented inventor, and fitness industry magnate. Scott was named one of the top 24 trainers in the world by Men's Fitness magazine, and one of the six most influential martial artists of the 21st century by Black Belt Magazine.How we suppress genius and create learning disabilityYouTube Video, 15:24Scott Sonnon at TEDxBellinghamA note card confession video from a graduate student with a learning disability.I Am A Student With A Learning DisabilityYouTube Video, 5:16Photojournalist Dan Habib is the director, producer and cinematographer of the Emmy-nominated documentary, Including Samuel, and for him, he thinks about inclusion every day. According to Habib, he - like most people - hadn't ever really given much thought into disability, but that all changed with the birth of his second son, Samuel, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The aclaimed film, shot and produced over four years, chronicles the Habib family’s efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. Including Samuel honestly portrays the family's hopes and struggles in a highly personal, passionate manner that captures both cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion that people with disabilities face daily. In this emotional talk, the disability-rights advocate explains his family's fight to ensure an inclusive education for Samuel, as well as how such an education has not only benefited Samuel, but all of us.Dan Habib at TEDxAmoskeagMillyardYouTube Video, 17:57The Habib Family: Living InclusivelyMother Teresa, Saddam Hussein, John Lennon, Simon Cowell, & Scary Spice... Can you "Imagine"? Viktoria ModestaForget what you know about disabilityPrototype

Intellectual DisabilityIntellectual disability means significantly subaverage general intellectual functioning, existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the developmental period, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. IDEA Definition:Orthopedic impairment means a severe orthopedic impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes impairments caused by a congenital anomaly, impairments caused by disease (e.g., poliomyelitis, bone tuberculosis), and impairments from other causes (e.g., cerebral palsy, amputations, and fractures or burns that cause contractures). IDEA Definition:Emotional DisturbanceEmotional disturbance means a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance: (a) an inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors; (b) an inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers; (c) inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances; (d) a general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression; and (e) a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems. Emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia. The term does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they also have an emotional disturbance.IDEA Definition:Deaf-BlindnessDeaf-blindness means concomitant hearing and visual impairments, the combination of which causes such severe communication and other developmental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for children with deafness or children with blindness.IDEA Definition:AutismAutism means a developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Other characteristics often associated with autism are engagement in repetitive activities and stereotyped movements, resistance to environmental change or change in daily routines, and unusual responses to sensory experiences.IDEA Definition:Visual impairment including blindness means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.Visual ImpairmentIDEA Definition:Traumatic Brain InjuryTraumatic brain injury means an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment, or both, that adversely affects a child's educational performance. Traumatic brain injury applies to open or closed head injuries resulting in impairments in one or more areas, such as cognition; language; memory; attention; reasoning; abstract thinking; judgment; problem-solving; sensory, perceptual, and motor abilities; psychosocial behavior; physical functions; information processing; and speech. Traumatic brain injury does not apply to brain injuries that are congenital or degenerative, or to brain injuries induced by birth trauma.IDEA Definition:Speech or Language ImpairmentSpeech or language impairment means a communication disorder, such as stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment, that adversely affects a child's educational performance.IDEA Definition:Specific Learning DisabilitySpecific learning disability means a disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, that may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations, including conditions such as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. Specific learning disability does not include learning problems that are primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of mental retardation, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.IDEA Definition:Other Health ImpairmentOther health impairment means having limited strength, vitality, or alertness, including a heightened alertness to environmental stimuli, that results in limited alertness with respect to the educational environment, that: (a) is due to chronic or acute health problems such as asthma, attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome; and (b) adversely affects a child's educational performance.IDEA Definition:Being told “Don’t stare!” might be the first memory some of us have of encountering a person with a disability. And in fact, when it comes to disability, our culture has collectively tended to avert its gaze. How do we, as individuals and as a culture, turn around a history where the polite thing was not to look? How do we learn to see the richness and complexity of an individual: A person who prefers cats or maybe dogs, who likes or doesn’t like chocolate, who is so unique as to defy categorization. How do we look, really look, at disability? Margaret Keller is Executive Director of Community Access to the Arts (CATA), a nonprofit organization that nurtures and celebrates the creativity of 600 people with disabilities across Berkshire County. After completing her doctoral coursework at the University of Chicago, she was lured away from the ivory tower by the nonprofit world, where she discovered her passion for bringing the arts and humanities to wider audiences. As Associate Director of the Chicago Humanities Festival, Margaret led program development for an annual city-wide celebration of art and ideas, working with major thinkers, artists, and cultural organizations.The Art of Seeing: How to Look at DisabilityYouTube Video, 16:33Margaret Keller at TEDxBerkshiresTo what extent is genius and mental illness such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia related? To what extent do genetics and environment influence genius and mental illness? Do we as a society overestimate and overemphasize the value of intelligence? This talk explores the age-old notion that "genius" and "madness" are related. With the explosion of scientific knowledge on the brain in the last decade, this talk explores the extent to which we currently understand the biological basis of creativity, intelligence, and mental illness.Genius, Mental Illness and Everything in BetweenYouTube Video, 19:20Dr. Lamont Tang at TEDxHongKongEDExtended TrailerThroughout his two decades at the forefront of Canadian music, rock icon Matthew Good has only been one thing: unpredictable. Refusing to adhere to the path of least resistance - a flat, unwavering, pop/rock cultivator status - Good has successfully shuffled through musical genres & aural approaches. Multiplatinum sales, four Juno awards, 19 nominations overall & almost one million albums in the hands of fans asserts Good as the epitome of an artist & creator: invoking personal challenge, taking unprecedented courses & carving his own path.Balancing Mental Health and GeniusYouTube Video, 21:30Matt Good at TEDxTorontoDisability usually refers to something physical. But in this dynamic and inspirational talk, AlejAndro Anastasio makes a case that nothing is more debilitating than disabled thinking. And who better to speak on disabilities than the one-armed, 3rd Degree Black Belt, self-proclaimed, "Champion of Life," himself?Disabled ThinkingYouTube Video, 18:19AlejAndro Anastasio at TEDxBoiseGlennon Doyle Melton is the author of the New York Times Bestseller, Carry On, Warrior, founder of http://www.momastery.com, and creator of http://www.monkeeseemonkeedo.org. Glennon believes that life is equal parts beautiful and brutal, and writes about the "brutiful" she finds in marriage, motherhood, faith, addiction and recovery. Glennon unleashes her wit, courage and irreverence to call us to accept ourselves exactly as we are today, while also inspiring us to live bolder, more meaningful lives on behalf of others.Lessons from the Mental HospitalYouTube Video, 17:11Glennon Doyle Melton at TEDxTraverseCityInclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom is powerful. It not only benefits those students with disabilities but also their peers and the whole community. A passionate advocate for full inclusion for students with disabilities, DeVries shares stories of failure and success. He shares that we have come along way but there are still things that need to be done. In the end he wants everyone to Stand Up for Inclusion!!!The Power of InclusionYouTube Video, 7:10Aaron DeVries at TEDxHoraceParkIn spite of our best intentions, kids with special needs are marginalized in our communities. Inclusion expert Torrie Dunlap shares why we need to change our thinking when it comes to special needs.Isn't it a pity? The real problem with special needsYouTube Video, 7:10Torrie Dunlap at TEDxAmericasFinestCityThe classroom is a complex environment. If not explicitly managed it can quickly turn into a collection of smaller groups that happen to be in the same room rather than an inclusive whole. See how this, sometimes overlooked, aspect can make a profound difference.The Power of Inclusive EducationYouTube Video, 11:29Ilene Schwartz at TEDxEastsidePrepEvery single person is unique and has different skills, so why are students taught the same way? Dr. Jan Wilson explores the possibilities of a universal design for learning, and how every individual can benefit.Reimagining Disability & Inclusive EducationYouTube Video, 16:13Jan Wilson at TEDxUniversityofTulsaConsidering physical disability impacts romance challenges our ableist misconceptions about what makes love and long-term relationships work.Is disability a dating dealbreaker?YouTube Video, 6:48The first comedy troupe composed of autistic people, they've been performing original absurdist and satirical sketches since 2010. They do not poke fun at Asperger's and did not form to prove that autistic people can be funny. Instead, they formed for the same reason anyone does comedy: To make you laugh... and even more so, to make themselves laugh.Asperger’s Are Us Comedy Troupehttp://www.aspergersareus.com/